Storm-front for vehicles.



PATENTBD JUNE 26, 1906.

0. M. STONE. STORM FRONT FOR VEHIGLES.

APPLICATION FILED OWL 23 1905.

Attorney Inventor t wfiw;

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLINTON M. STONE, OF CONNERSVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- THIRD TOFREDERIC I. BARROWS, TRUSTEE, AND ONE-THIRD TO FREDERIO I. BARROWS, OF(JONNERSVILLE, INDIANA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

:atented June 26, 1906.

Application filed October 23,1905. Serial No. 283,922.

To (l/ZZ- whom may concern-.-

Be it known that I, CLINTON M. STONE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Connersville, Fayette county, Indiana, (whose post-officeaddress is No. 212 West Eleventh street, Connersville, Indiana,) haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Storm-Fronts forVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to improvements in the construction ofstorm-fronts for vehicles and will be readily understood from thefollowing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stormfrontembodying my improved features of construction, parts being broken awayin several places to expose the inner construction Fig. 2, a rearelevation of the front wall with the side walls and roof omitted; Fig.3, a vertical transverse section of the structure shown in conjunctionwith a portion of the vehicle body and top; Fig. 4, a perspective viewof one of the legs connecting the structure with the body and dash ofthe vehicle; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the upper portion of thestructure, and Fig. 6 a perspective view of the sliding joint of one ofthe adjustable side braces.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the front portion of the box or body of avehicle; 2, its floor; 3, the dash; 4, the front wall of the storm-frontof generally ordinary form and construction disposed in front of thedash and extending above it, this front wall having the usualconstruction represented by a fabric secured upon a skeleton framework,the wall being provided, as usual, with proper windows, &c.; 5, a padsecured at the rear of the lower edge of the front wall and adapted tobear against the front surface of the dash, its main purpose being toprevent damage to the dash; 6, a pair of bows secured to the rearface ofthe front wall some distance above the top of the dash, these bows eachpresenting two members downwardly, the rear member being provided with aseries of bolt-holes permitting the bows to be secured in selectiveposition upon the front wall; 7, a leg secured to the rear member ofeach bow, the feet of these legs resting upon the floor of the body ofthe vehicle S, adjusting-screws near the lower ends of the legs, theirforward ends bearing against the inner surface of the dash below the pad5; 9, an eye projecting outwardly from each side edge of the front wallnear its top or at such height as to substantially correspond with thatof the front topprop on the vehicle-top; 10, a rod extending fore andaft through each of these eyes 10 struts in the form of rods with eyesat each end engaging the rods 10, the forward ends of these strutsabutting against the rear surfaces of eyes 9, while their rear ends areadapted to abut against the front surfaces of the front props of thevehicle-top 11, a hook on the rear end of each of the rods 10, adaptedto hook over the front prop of the vehicle top .12, a nut on the forwardend of each of these rods engaging in front of the eyes 9; 13, the frontbow of the vehicle-top; 14, the top portion of this bow; 15, the frontportion of theroof of the vehicle-top; 16, the side porof the sidemembers of the frame of the front wall of the general structure; 18,'thelower portions of these side frames; 19, hinges uniting the upper to thelower portions of the side members of the frame of the front wall, thesehinges being preferably located at about half the height of the frontwall; 20, slotted links secured to the rear surfaces of the lower sidemembers 18 near their bases and extended inwardly upon the rigidportions of the framework of the front wall, and 21 clamp-screwsadjustably clamping the inner portions of these links to the rigidportion of the frame of the front wall.

The parts thus far referred to pertain to the front wall of thestructure, and it may be well at this stageto consider the arrangementand use of these parts aside from other matters. The front wall is to beset in place with at the rear of the dash, the latter resting their feetupon the floor of the body. The vertical row of perforations-in thefront members of bows 6 permit of the vertical adjustment of the frontwall to suit the general height of the top work of the vehicle and theadjustingscrews 8 in the legs permit of the front wall being adjusted toa vertical position. The rods 10 are to have their hooks 11 engaged overthe front props of the vehicle-top, and the nuts 12 being properlyadjusted the front wall is thus supported in vertical position its lowerportion at the front and the legs 7 tion of the vehicle-top; 17, theupper portion and rigid condition. The struts 1O abut between the frontprops of the vehicle-top and the eyes 9 and act as distance-pieces forthe upper portion of the front wall.

The base of the front wall should desirably correspond substantiallywith the width of the dash, and as this varies with the differentvehicles provision is made for varying the width of the base of thefront wall. The nuts 21 being loosened the lower side members 18 may beadjusted inwardly and outwardly, the flexible material with which thefront wall is faced permitting of this ad justment. In Fig. 2 the lowermember 18 at the left is shown in farthest outward positioncorresponding with a wide dash and vehiclebody, while at the right thelower member 18 is shown as flexed inwardly, corresponding with thenarrower body and dash.

Proceeding with the drawings, 22 indicates the roof portion of thestorm-front, the same being formed of flexible material, having itsfront edge secured to the upper edge of the front wall of the structure,the ends of this roof portion turning downwardly some little distanceand having their front edges also secured to the front wall; 23, therear edge of this roof portion of the storm-front, the same consisting,preferably, of a hem; 24, a metallic ribbon disposed within this hem andex tending from near one end to near the other end of the rear edge ofroof portion 22 or to the points where that roof portion begins to turndownwardly; 25, straps having their inner'ends secured rigidly to theends of the ribbon 24 by being secured to the hem 23 and to the ends ofthe ribbon disposed within it, these straps lying exterior to the roofportion of the storm-front; 26, hooks at the outer ends of the straps25, adapted to engage under the front props of the vehicle-top, the sameprops engaged by the hooks 11, and 27 a buckle in each of the straps 25,by means of which they can be lengthened or shortened.

The width of the roof portion 22 should be such that its rear edge willoverlie the'front portion of the vehicle-top. The storm-front havingbeen placed in position and the hooks 26 engaged with the front props,the proper adjustment at the buckles 27 permits the rear portion of theroof to be drawn into snug contact with the underlying front portion ofthe vehicle-top. The metallic ribbon 24 gives transverse stiffness tothe rear edge of the roof portion of the storm-front, so that before thebuckles are adjusted and at all times a fore and aft limberness at therear edge of roof portion 22 is avoided. By this means the substantialstraightness of the rear portion is not dependent on the straps 25 beingtightly drawn.

Proceeding with the drawings, 28 indicates the side walls of thestorm-front, their rear margins being on such lines as to properlycorrespond with the front margins of the vehicle-top, the upperextremities of these side walls being permanently secured to thedownwardlyprojecting portions of the roof portion 22 of the storm-front;29, metallic stiffening-pieces permanently secured to the inner surfacesof these side walls between their front and rear margins, their upperextremities being near the top of the side walls and their lowerextremities at about their mid-height; 30, a hook secured to the innermargin of each side wall at the level of the bases of thestiffening-strips 29, these hooks being adapted to engage the front bowof the vehicle-top 31, a strip of spring material, as of elastic fabric,secured to the side walls, their rear ends being secured at the hooks'30and their front ends being secured at the bases of the stiffening-strips29; 32, a diagonal brace lying against the inner face of each side wall,their upper and rear ends being pivoted at the upper extremities ofstiffeningstrips 29, their forward extremities being provided with apair of inwardly-projecting pins 33, a guide-loop, secured to the innerface of each upper side member of the frame of the front wall, the lowerfront ends of the braces 32 passing between the frame members and theloops, and the pins straddling the loops so that the forward ends of thebraces are at liberty to slide up and down; 34, a similar but reverseddiagonal brace upon each side wall, the upper forward ends of theselatter braces being pivoted to the framing of the storm-front and theirrear lower ends overlying the lower portions of stiffening-strips 29 andbeing provided each with a pair of inwardly-projecting pins, the twodiagonal braces constituting a pair at each side wall of the structure,being pivoted at their intersection, and 35 a loop secured at the baseof each stiffening strip 29 and engaged by the lower rear end of thediagonal brace 34:.

The general structure having been placed in position upon the vehicle,it is apparent that the side walls may have their rear edges movedbackward and forward, the diagonal braces yielding as desired, but atall times giving side stiffness to the portions of the side wallscomprehended between the front wall and the stiffening-strips 29regardless of whether these portions of the side walls be flat and tautor be loose and puckered. These portions of the side walls thereforepossess the qualities at once of substantial stiffness and flexibility,permitting without flimsy looseness of the ready production of liberalside openings into the vehicle. The portions of the side walls rearwardof the stiffening-strips 29 are quite flexible. The side walls havingbeen narrowed forwardly to the desired extent and the occupant of thevehicle being in position, he may draw the side walls rearwardly. Thehooks 30 having been engaged around the front bows of the sasivehicle-top puts the rear portions of the side walls under strain andholds all portions of the side walls in desired condition. When thedevice is removed from the vehicle, the roof portion 22 may collapseforwardly, and the stiffening-strips 29 may be pushed forwardly and therear portions of the side walls folded inwardly, the whole structurethus becoming condensed into a comparatively thin body.

I claim as my invention 1. In a storm-front, the combination,substantially as set forth, of a front wall provided with openings, legsdisposed to the rear of the front wall and having their upper endssecured thereto, bows forming the means for securing the legs to thefront wall and having their rear members secured to said legs and theirfront members provided with a vertical series of bolt-holes for bolts toserve in securing them to the front wall, and adjustable connectionsextending rearwardly from the upper portion of the side margins of thefront wall and adapted to engage the top props of a vehicle-top.

2. In a storm-front, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall provided'with openings, legs disposed to the rear of thefront wall and having their upper ends secured. thereto, adjustableconnections extending rearwardly from the upper portion of the sidemargins of the front Wall and adapted to engage the top props of avehicletop, and lower side frame members of said front wall having theirupper ends flexibly connected with the remaining portions of said frontwall, and fastening devices for securing said lower frame members inadjusted position. 1

3. In a storm-front, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall provided with openings, legs disposed to the rear of thefront wall and having their upper ends secured thereto, adjustableconnections extending rearwardly from the upper portion of the sidemargins of the front Wall and adapt ed to engage the top props of avehicle-top, and lower side frame members of said front wall havingtheir upper ends hinged to the remaining portion of said front wall, andfastening devices for securing said lower frame members in adjustedposition.

4. In a storm-front, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall provided with openings, legs disposed to the rear of thefront wall and having their upper ends secured thereto, adjustableconnections ex tending rearwardly from the upper portion of the sidemargins of the front wall and adapted to engage the top props of avehicletop, and lower side frame members of said front wall having theirupper ends flexibly connected with the remaining portions of said frontwall, and slotted links and clampscrews 'for securing said lower framemem bers in adjusted position relative to the remaining portions of thefront wall.

5. In a storm-front, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall provided with openings, means for securing the same to avehicle, a-flexible roof portion having its front edge secured to thetop of said front wall, straps and buckles at the ends of the rear edgeof said roof portion, and hooks at the extremities of said strapsadapted to engage the front props of a vehicle-top.

6. In a storm-front, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall provided with openings, means for securing the same to avehicle, a flexible roof portion having its front edge secured to thetop of said front wall, straps and buckles at the ends of the rear edgeof said roof portion, hooks at the extremities of said straps adaptedto-engage the front props of a vehicle-top, and a metallic ribbonsecured to the rear edge of said roof portion and having its endsconnected with said straps.

7. In a storm-front, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall provided with openings, means for securing the same to avehicle, a flexible roof portion hav ing its front edge secured to thetop of said front wail, straps and buckles at the ends of the rear edgeof said roof portion, hooks at the extremities of said straps adapted toengage the front props of a vehicletop, and a metallic ribbon inclosedwithin a hem at the rear edge of said roof portion and having its endssecured to said straps.

8. In a storm-front, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall, means for securing the same to a vehicle, a roof portionattached thereto and adapted to cooper ate with the roof of avehicle-top, side walls having their front edges secured to said frontwall, hooks secured to the rear edges of the side walls and adapted toengage the front bows of a vehicle-top, and. springs upon said sidewalls extending from said hooks forwardly and secured to an intermediateportion of the side walls.

9. In a stormfront, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall, means for securing the same to a vehicle, a roof portionattached thereto and adapted to cooperate with the roof of avehicle-top, side walls having their front edges secured to said frontwall, hooks secured to the rear edges of the side walls and adapted toengage the front bows of a vehicle-top, stiffening-strips secured tosaid side walls at an intermediate portion of their width and extendingfrom their tops downwardly, and springs extending from said hooks to thelower extremities of said stiffening-strips.

10. In a storm-front, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall, means for securing the same to a vehicle, a roof portionattached thereto and adapted to cooper- IIO ate with the roof of avehicle-top, side walls having their front edges secured to said frontwall, hooks secured to the rear edges of the side walls and adapted toengage the front bows of a vehicle-top, stiffening-strips secured tosaid side walls at an intermediate portion of their width and extendingfrom their tops downwardly, springs extending from said hooks to thelower extremities of said stiffening-strips, and a pair of diagonal.braces pivoted at their intersections and secured to the forward portionof each side wall between the front wall and the stiffeningstrips, theupper ends of these braces being pivoted to and their lower ends havingsliding connectionwith the front wall and stiffening-strips.

1 1. In a storm-front, the combination, sub stantially as set forth, ofa front wall, means for securing the same to a vehicle, a roof portionattached thereto and adapted to cooperate with the roof of .avehicle-top, side walls having their front edges secured to said frontWall, hooks secured to the rear edges of the side walls and adapted toengage the front bows of a vehicle-top, stiffening-strips secured tosaid side walls at an intermediate portion of their width and extendingfrom their tops downwardly, springs extending from said hooks to thelower extremities of said stiffening-strips, guide-loops upon said frontwall and stiffening strips, and diagonal braces pivoted at theirintersections and having their upper ends pivoted to the front wall andstiffening-strips and having their lower ends sliding in saidguide-loops and provided with pins to prevent their displacement fromthe guide-loops.

12. In a storm-front, the combination, substantially as set forth, of afront wall, means for securing the same to a vehicle, a roof portionattached thereto and adapted to cooperate with the roof of avehicle-top, side walls having their front edges secured to said frontwall, hooks secured to the rear edges of the side walls and adapted toengage the front bows of a vehicle-top, stiffening-strips secured tosaid side walls and extending partially down the same, springs extendingfrom the lower extremities of said stiffening-strips to said hooks,guide-loops upon said stiffening-strips and front wall, diagonal bracespivoted at their intersections and having their upper ends secured tothe front wall and stiffening-strips and having their lower endsengaging said guide-loops and having project ing pins to prevent theirdisplacement from the guide-loops.

CLINTON M. STONE. l/Vitnesses:

FREDERIO I. BAnRows, JOSEPHINE KNoTTs

